We are back with another tactic testing article. This time, we tested the 4123 Cookie Shooter by Delicious the Assembler, who regular readers will know is one of our favourite tactic creators. Funnily, when I saw the tactic, I didn’t even realise it was one of his tactics, but it was another hit for the prolific tactic creator.
The conditions of the test
The test was conducted with an updated database downloaded via the Steam workshop from FMInside.net. I started the game with Everton, who had a predicted finish of 12th place and holidayed an entire season with no changes made to the team.
What is the tactical set-up?
As in the title of the tactic, it is set up in a 4123 formation with a balanced mentality. In goal was a sweeper keeper on defend mentality, which suits Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
In front of the goalkeeper are two inverted Wing-Backs on support and two Ball-Playing Defenders on defend duty. The protection for the backline is a Defensive Midfielder on support. Out wide in the wide midfield roles are Inverted Wingers, both on support. The attack is simple, with three Advanced Forwards all on Attack.
The tactic suited the players available due to the presence of two very good forwards in Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Dwight McNeil did well out of position.
How did the tactic perform?
As with all Delicious’ tactics, it produced excellent results, as the team picked up 76 points and finished third place in the Premier League table.
The biggest takeaway from looking at the league table is the number of goals scored by the team using the tactic, as they scored 102 goals, which was a league-high. However, despite the tactic featuring three Advanced Forwards, the team still had the fourth-best defensive record in the table, too.
Another notable feature of this tactic was the team took 32 points from their 19 away games, which was a tally bettered only by eventual champions Manchester City.
The results in the cup competitions were nothing to write home about, as the team exited the FA Cup at the Quarter Final stage against Arsenal while losing to Aston Villa in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup.
Who were the top performers using this tactic?
As has been the case with many of our tactic testing articles with the updated database, the two-star strikers Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the top performers using this tactic. Both forwards played 43 games in all competitions over the season.
Beto topped the charts for average season rating with a score of 7.69, the second-highest average season rating in the Premier League behind Haaland. The Portuguese forward was also pipped to the league’s Golden Boot award by the Norwegian despite scoring 33 league goals and 40 in all competitions. He also produced seven assists.
Calvert-Lewin’s season average rating of 7.66 was not far behind his strike partner, as the forward scored 30 goals and created 13 goals for his teammates.
The third forward in the formation, Dwight McNeil, usually a winger or a wide midfielder, also enjoyed an excellent campaign, picking up a rating of 7.39 over the season while scoring 16 goals and producing 14 assists in 39 appearances.
Loan star Arnaut Danjuma also enjoyed a productive season playing as an inverted winger on the team’s right side, achieving a respectable 7.17 average season rating, scoring nine times and assisting 15 goals.
The goals were not just the kingdom of the forwards, though, as centre-back James Tarkowski scored eight goals, while defensive midfielder Amadou Onana also found the target on four occasions.
In terms of assists, a special mention should go to left-sided midfielder Jack Harrison, who produced 20 assists in all competitions. His 17 Premier League assists were a league-high. Harrison also scored four goals and had an average season rating of 6.98.
Right-back Nathan Patterson was also highly effective when it came to creating goals for his teammates, producing a respectable seven assists and picking up a season-average rating of 6.92.
Fellow full-backs Ashley Young and Ben Godfrey produced six and five assists over the season, which were also respectable numbers from predominantly defensive positions.
Young forward Youssef Chermiti only played a bit-part role, starting just six games, while making 30 substitute appearances, but he scored three goals and produced five assists. It seems he proved a useful alternative to the starting front three.
What is my conclusion?
As soon as I realised this was a tactic from Delicious, I knew it would be a winning tactic. From how it was set up, I expected the tactic to produce goals and lots of them, and it certainly didn’t disappoint in that respect.
However, the set-up finds a lovely balance between being lethal in attack but also steady in defence, which is often a tough juggling act. Above all, it is highly entertaining, as I have used it in one of my recent personal saves, and it’s just a fun tactic.
I would highly recommend using this tactic, especially if you are starting the game with Everton or a team that has two or three outstanding forward players to occupy the advanced forward roles.
Have you tried 4123 Cookie Shooter by Delicious the Assembler, and if you have, what are your thoughts on the tactic? Let us know via our socials
